Look Back: Grading Steelers 2024 Free Agency Acquisitions
We are roughly one month away from the start of the NFL free agency period kicking off but before previewing what needs the front office will be looking to fill, it’s worth dissecting their last batch of acquisitions. 2025 will be year three of the Omar Khan era with the Steelers finishing 10-7 in both of his first two full campaigns as the general manager. This report card will grade each move based on investment level, expectations, while also taking into account future outlook for those that have a potential future within the organization.Â
QB: Russell Wilson (Grade: B-)
Wilson’s divorce from the Denver Broncos led to a unique, cost-friendly opportunity up north. Immediately after taking over under center, he gave the offense a spark, leading them to a 6-1 record. There were a few really encouraging moments, such as his game-winning toss to beat the Commanders, followed by a 44-point explosion in Cincinnati. After that, things fell off the rails for the entire team but it’s hard to argue that anyone’s production declined more than Wilson’s, finishing 31st in success rate during the Steelers five game losing stretch to end the year. While he himself has repeatedly expressed his desire to finish his career here, the marriage between the two parties seems pretty sketchy without a ton of upside moving forward. Still, he gave them competent quarterback play for a good stretch for pennies on the dollar, even it was just a fling.
QB: Justin Fields (Grade: B-) – Trade
Because of injury, Fields was given a chance to start the regular season but his play, despite legitimate improvement in some areas, wasn’t quite inspiring enough to keep the job away from the veteran. He was getting rid of the ball a little bit quicker, making better decisions over the first month and still providing value as a runner, which was super helpful in the low red zone area. Still, Fields still leaves quite a bit to desire as a passer. He’s still a slow processor that hasn’t yet proven that he can consistently beat defenses from the pocket and never looked completely comfortable working under center. Because of the lack of available quarterback options on the free agency market and a dreadful quarterback draft class, the Steelers may be forced to bring him, or Wilson even, back on a cheaper deal as a stop-gap option. But there’s not much evidence to believe in him ever being more than that.
ILB: Patrick Queen (Grade: C+)
When you sign the largest free agent contract in franchise history, there are going to be some lofty expectations for you. It took Queen a little bit to get rolling in 2024 in a new environment but once he got comfortable in the scheme, you started to see him take serious strides in key areas. His speed, fluidity and improved feel in zone coverage were a real asset. His range as a run defender was obvious but you would have liked to see him produce more splash on a consistent basis and work downhill a bit quicker as a gap shooter, knowing that he’s not the type to deconstruct blocks at a high level. It would certainly help him next year if Pittsburgh could get a run plugger up the middle to allow him more freedom to play faster but at the very least, they need to unleash him as a blitzer much more frequently. Queen was solid at the second level and can still be a real difference maker if used properly.Â
CB Donte Jackson (Grade: D+) – Trade
After the first few weeks of the season, this trade looked fairly promising. Jackson’s speed on the back end was such an obvious, and much needed, upgrade over his predecessors and even his willingness to come up to play the run was a welcomed sight. However, beyond the turnover production, things got noticeably worse as the season wore on. Pittsburgh’s man-centric coverage matrix often times put him in assignments that he wasn’t capable of executing at a high level and despite being a very willing tackler, he missed over 22% of his attempts, per PFF data. Jackson’s injury history was part of the reason that Carolina was likely to release him if they couldn’t find a trade partner and even though he only missed a pair of games, he exited several more early. Jackson is a free agent and could be retained but this shoulder only be considered if it doesn’t preclude them from seeking an additional upgrade outside. In the end, the Diontae Johnson-Donte Jackson deal ironically felt like a lose-lose for both teams.
SS DeShon Elliott (Grade: A)
Strangely enough, Khan’s least discussed move during the first week of free agency may have been his best work as the teams trigger man. Make no mistake about it, Elliott was fantastic all year along and was unequivocally one of the best strong safeties in the NFL this past fall. In Pittsburgh’s scheme, he was primarily their strong safety, often rotating down as the extra man in the box on early down situations and that’s where he excelled, coming downhill to fit the run. Each week, it felt like #25 was everywhere, making play after play. To make things more impressive, he missed just two tackles all season long, further proving just how reliable he was on a down to down basis. His work in coverage tailed off a smidge down the stretch but he was still pretty solid in that regard overall. Can he repeat this again in 2025? That feels a tad optimistic. But you can make a very serious argument that he’s their best non-rookie contract from a value perspective as of today.
RB Cordarrelle Patterson (Grade: D-)
After the NFL implemented some the new kick return rules, the Steelers first call was to Patterson, one of the all-time greats on special teams. Unfortunately, he didn’t provide the splash that they envisioned. When healthy, he averaged just 21.8 yards per return, the lowest mark in the entire league among guys with at least double digit attempts. In the two games prior to him getting placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury, there were brief flashes of his bruising rushing style. After returning in week 10, Patterson obviously lacked explosiveness and despite his shortcomings, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was still intent on getting him reps in less than pivotal moments. With his days as a kick returner seemingly over, it’s difficult to justify keeping him on the roster with a $3.75M cap hit for next season.
WR Van Jefferson (Grade: D)
Jefferson became somewhat of a punching bag on social media because of his lack of production but honestly, it was an unfair to ask him to step into a starting role in the first place. It was just something that happened because Khan and company struck out multiple times in their attempts to acquire another playmaker in the months leading up to the regular season. Among 122 wideouts with at least 25 targets, he finished 116th in yards per route run and only amassed 45 receiving yards once. To Jefferson’s credit, he did show more of a willingness as a blocker as the season went on, attempted to do the dirty work and never once complained about his lack of targets. To further his NFL career, his best shot may be to begin specializing in special teams to hang around on a roster for a little while longer.
TE MyCole Pruitt (Grade: C-)
For most teams, a number three tight end is something of an afterthought but for this offense that featured a ton of 13 personnel, Pruitt’s involvement was heightened. Beyond that, it’s fair to assume that he was helpful in terms of helping his teammates get acclimated to the system seeing as he’s played the majority of his career within it. Pruitt is a fine depth piece, one that is an adequate blocker and reliable receiver on the off-chance that the ball comes his direction. While not entirely his fault, the offense was pretty terrible working out of these formations, averaging just 5.8 yards per attempt through the air and 3.3 on the ground. Assuming that he wishes to continue playing at 33-years old, it shouldn’t shock anyone if he re-signs for the veteran minimum and a shot to make the active roster out of training camp.
IDL Dean Lowry (Grade: D-)
After signing a two-year contract with the Steelers, Lowry’s most memorable moment this past season came against the Jets when he blocked a field goal try late in the third quarter of that primetime bout. Outside of that, there weren’t many strong performances that come to mind immediately and part of that was because of the starters in the trenches staying healthier than they had in recent years. In previous stops, he’d be able to carve out of a role as a reserve but that never came to fruition during his first year in Pittsburgh. The franchise can shave off $2.5M in cap space by releasing him and given the lack of production they received, it’s likely that they go down that route.